...
By Sophie Clark
Live News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The nationwide "Hands Off!" protest planned for April 5 is still growing across the country one day away from the event.
Protests were already planned for over 1,000 cities and towns across the nation, but now more locations—including some overseas—have appeared on the official Hands Off and Mobilize websites.
The protests are being organized by advocacy groups, including Third Act—an environmental group led by environmentalist and author Bill McKibben—Reproductive Freedom for All, and the 50501 Movement.
Read More on News
They are being held the weekend before the SAVE Act will likely be voted on in Congress, which many civil rights activists have warned will make it harder for women and minorities to register to vote.
They are also being held right after the stock market plunged following President Donald Trump's tariff impositions on April 1.
...
Why It Matters
Hands Off! is a grassroots movement of people who want the Trump administration, including Elon Musk, to take their "hands off" of social security, federal jobs, Medicaid, and more.
Although Republicans won the House, Senate, and the presidency in November, anger at their mass firings of federal workers, shuttering Social Security offices, tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy, and laws to make voting more difficult for citizens, have resulted in angry town halls in Republican and Democrat districts across the country.
What To Know
Hands Off! protests are occurring in the following state capitols:
- Montgomery, Alabama: noon at 600 Dexter Ave.
- Juneau, Alaska: noon at 120 4th St.
- Phoenix, Arizona: 10 a.m. at 1700 W. Washington St.
- Little Rock, Arkansas: 11 a.m. at 500 Woodlane St.
- Sacramento, California: 11 a.m. at 1310 10th St.
- Denver, Colorado: noon at 200 E. Colfax Ave.
- Hartford, Connecticut: 3 p.m. at 210 Capitol Ave.
- Dover, Delaware: noon, details not available
- Tallahassee, Florida: noon, 400 S. Monroe St.
- Atlanta, Georgia: 12:30 p.m., details not available
- Honolulu, Hawaii: noon at 415 S. Beretania St.
- Boise, Idaho: 2 p.m. at 150 N. Capitol Blvd.
- Springfield, Illinois: noon at 401 S. 2nd St.
- Indianapolis, Indiana: noon at 200 W. Washington St.
- Des Moines, Iowa: noon at 400 Locust St.
- Topeka, Kansas: noon at 300 SW 10th Ave.
- Frankfort, Kentucky: 11 a.m. at 700 Capital Ave.
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 11 a.m. at 900 N. 3rd St.
- Augusta, Maine: noon at 111 Sewall St.
- Boston, Massachusetts: 11 a.m. at 139 Tremont St.
- Lansing, Michigan: noon at 100 N. Capitol Ave.
- Saint Paul, Minnesota: noon at 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
- Jefferson City, Missouri: noon at 201 W. Capitol Ave.
- Helena, Montana: noon at 1301 E. 6th Ave.
- Lincoln, Nebraska: 11 a.m. at 1445 K St.
- Carson City, Nevada: noon at 401 S. Carson St.
- Concord, New Hampshire: noon at 107 N. Main St.
- Trenton, New Jersey: noon at 125 W. State St.
- Santa Fe, New Mexico: noon at 490 Old Santa Fe Trail
- Albany, New York: 11 a.m. at West Capitol Park, State 85, S. Swan St.
- Raleigh, North Carolina: 11 a.m. at 16 W. Jones St.
- Bismarck, North Dakota: 4 p.m. at 600 E. Boulevard Ave.
- Columbus, Ohio: noon at 1 Capitol Square
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: noon at 200 N. Walker Ave.
- Salem, Oregon: noon at Summer Street Northeast
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: noon at North 3rd Street and State Street
- Providence, Rhode Island: noon at 324 Hope St.
- Columbia, South Carolina: 1 p.m. at 1100 Gervais St.
- Pierre, South Dakota: noon at 500 E. Capitol Ave.
- Nashville, Tennessee: noon at 2500 West End Ave.
- Austin, Texas: 2 p.m. at 1100 Congress Ave.
- Salt Lake City, Utah: noon at 350 State St.
- Montpelier, Vermont: noon at 115 State St.
- Richmond, Virginia: 11:30 a.m. at 101 N. 9th St.
- Olympia, Washington: 2 p.m. at 416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW
- Charleston, West Virginia: noon at 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E.
- Madison, Wisconsin: noon at 2 E. Main St.
- Cheyenne, Wyoming: details not available
Annapolis, Maryland, and Jackson, Mississippi, did not have any protests planned on April 5 at the time of publication, although there are other locations hosting Hands Off! gatherings in both states.
Protests are also taking place at over 1000 other locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including new locations such as McAllen, Texas, and Howard County, Texas.
According to another new announcement from Hands Off!, the group Dropkick Murphys, a band that has been vocally anti-MAGA since Trump's first term in office, will be performing at the Boston protest.
A spokesperson for Hands Off! spoke to Newsweek about the rise in sign ups for their protests: "There have been a steady rise in demonstrations over the course of the week; more will be added between now and Saturday. There are over 500,000 sign ups and counting nationwide. Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented power grab—attacking our civil rights, driving up prices, slashing funding for essential programs, and creating instability at every turn."
Americans abroad and citizens of other nations who have been impacted by the decisions of the Trump White House—such as imposing mass tariffs, the stock market cratering in response to those tariffs, and cutting funds to USAID—are also taking to the streets.
Protests are planned in Berlin, Frankfurt, Vienna, Brussels, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Lyon, Nice, Lisbon, and Guadalajara, as well as other locations.
Hands Off! stresses that they are a non-violent protest movement. Their website states: "We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values, and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events."
What People Are Saying
**The Hands Off! mission statement states: "**This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way.
"They want to strip America for parts—shuttering Social Security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections, and gutting Medicaid—all to bankroll their billionaire tax scam. They're handing over our tax dollars, our public services, and our democracy to the ultra-rich.
"If we don't fight now, there won't be anything left to save."
A spokesperson for Hands Off! told Newsweek: "Our communities are paying the price while the Trumps and Musks of the world cash in. This fight is just beginning, and we're mobilizing to jumpstart the opposition. We can't afford to wait any longer to fight back. Together, we have the power to stop the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover. We are not going to preview actions in the future nor discuss any plans at this time."
What Happens Next
Hands Off! protests will take place in all 50 states, as well as in several countries tomorrow.
Update 6:51 am ET: This story was updated to include comment from Hands Off!
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines